Report 1962: Poland and the Baltics--Finding Roots

Page 9 of 9: Resources and Comments

For travel in Poland, I used VRBO.com to find an apartment in Krakow and Fodors to choose a hotel in Warsaw. I had enough miles from United for one free flight, which was important because it can be pricey to fly to one country and come home from another. Even booking early, my husband's non-free flight cost over $1,100.

I used several travel sites to find the best way to get from Warsaw to Vilnius, but never really considered the cheaper modes of travel. I googled "Discount Eastern European Airlines" and compared prices of those listed.

I've wanted to travel to the Baltics for years, but my husband just didn't want to go on our own and we don't like most travel companies. The groups tend to be too large and therefore cumbersome. When Overseas Adventure Travel announced their new trip to this area, we decided to go for it, as they guarantee groups of not more than 16 people and they tend to appeal to travel junkies who tell anyone within earshot, "I usually travel independently!"

But if we ever went again, I think we know enough to do it on our own. I saw an apartment listed on VRBO for Vilnius that I'd want for a week, for instance. And I don't think driving would be too bad. At least it's on the same side as us!

But the group offered some educational advantages, such as a lecture in each country and guides to point out details that we otherwise would have missed. It's also relaxing not to have to worry about anything. I've developed a disturbing phenomenon, namely experiencing anxiety whenever it's time to change locations. I've never, ever been prone to this in 45 years as a passionate traveler, but somehow it just comes by itself lately. I don't like it. So handing responsibility over to someone else was a load off my mind! Maybe we'll do the combination independent/group again because this time it worked very, very well!